Undocumented migrants rescued from Texas sewers while crossing U.S. border

A group of undocumented migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border using El Paso’s sewer system had to be rescued after their plan to sneak into the country failed, authorities reported. 

More than a dozen migrants had planned to use El Paso’s sewer system to cross the border and enter the United States.

However, their plan backfired when they realized that the city drains were welded shit last year after border authorities caught several migrants using the sewage system to circumvent the border wall. 

The fire department and the U.S. Border Patrol had to use several high-power tools, including a saw, to open the storm drain and remove the migrants from the sewer. 

At least 17 undocumented migrants from Mexico and El Salvador were found in the sewer. After being rescued they were inspected by doctors and were found to be in good health. They were turned over to immigration officers for processing and will be sent back to Mexico.

“After making an illegal entry into the U.S., the migrants attempted to evade Border Patrol detection by utilizing this hazardous tunnel. Phenomenal work!” wrote the Acting Chief Patrol Agent of El Paso, Peter Jaquez, in a post on Instagram. 

City officials and Border Patrol agents are ramping up their efforts to stop the migrants from using the tunnels to reach the city. The tunnels can suddenly have rushing water, which can cause drownings, and they are plagued by venomous snakes, officials added. 

El Paso has been dealing with an unprecedented number of undocumented migrants crossing the border. In December of last year, the city declared a state of emergency after as many as 2,400 migrants were arriving in the city every day.